"If I had my choice, I would stay here for the rest of my career. I love this place, I have a great relationship with the people, the staff, the manager, the players, the fans. I feel like I'm at home.

"I haven't played many games. I can't wait to put the Marseille shirt on, to show people that I like to play football."

The midfielder also commented on the structure of French football, insisting that a director of football system is best, as a coach is enabled to focus on his work with the players.

"In England, I think it doesn't work as well as in France and elsewhere in Europe," said Barton of the structure of English clubs.

"The system with a sporting director, a president and a coach, is better.

"In England, if you have a problem with the manager, he must go with all the staff. This is a big problem for a club. If I owned a club, I would use the French system. The English system, I don't think works."